Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have 804 people on the waiting list in the Northwest Territories. In the Member’s riding alone, I think there are about 39 on the waiting list. In many cases, people have to be on the waiting list to access some of the support programs. So they may be housed, but they have to be on the waiting list to access some of those programs. That’s the reason some of the numbers are so high.
At far as the length of time, I’d have to find out about the length of time. We try to get as many people into units as quickly as possible.
As to what we’re doing to address the issue, again, we’re challenged with the declining CMHC funding. That’s why we do a lot of replacement units. In the Member’s riding alone, in 2014-15 I think we spent about $12.5 million trying to address some of the housing concerns. Well done, Mr. Blake.
We’ll continue to make our investments in the communities they are needed in. Thank you.
I also mentioned that within our budget we have budgeted $1.6 million for 75 units, which will be an agreement entered with lease agreements in Inuvik, Hay River and Yellowknife.
Will the Minister consider this as a possible solution in my riding as a short-term solution? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The $1.6 million is money that we’ve received from ECE through their Income Support program. They supported many people in public housing or income support clients into housing units. We’ve taken over the administration of that program, so we’re actually looking at 75 units possibly leasing and, in turn, give those units to former clients who were formerly on income support to try to transition back into public housing. So it’s not the construction of 75 new units. I believe in many communities there are families supported through this particular program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I don’t think the Minister really answered the question. Will he consider that as a solution? Yes or no.
I thought I did answer the question. Yes, we will look at it for every community.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government recently transferred responsibility for language revitalization to Aboriginal governments. The thinking is to put the job in the hands of the language experts at the local level, to involve elders and also the speakers.
When will the government be able to provide a detailed report on the progress and outcome of their efforts? This question is posed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The Minister of Education, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Part of the plan is in 2014-15 that the regional Aboriginal governments will be receiving a contribution from our department. There is an increase in contributions from $1.5 million to $3.48 million for them to hire their own coordinator and to look after the languages programming at the community level. The Member is quite correct; we need to focus on those Aboriginal groups who are the experts in the field and they can provide more feedback and more positive results. Those are just some of the areas that we have explored and we have continued to provide those opportunities at the community level.
Experts tells us that the NWT is on the brink of losing some of our Aboriginal languages, and yet Aboriginal governments who are responsible for five-year language plans are receiving substantially less money than they asked for. I’m very worried that they don’t have enough funding to truly succeed.
What is this Minister doing to reverse the tide of language erosion and ensure Aboriginal governments succeed in this area?
We are making drastic changes to our contributions even before big changes from previous years. Some of the areas that we’ve transferred on to Aboriginal governments… There are approximately seven different areas of initiatives that we’ve transferred, working very closely with the community governments, and that is languages program, regional and community-based Aboriginal literacy activities, there are Aboriginal language acquisition projects, $93,000 of $143,000 budgeted. There are teaching and learning centres that we have to deal with through education authorities. There’s also Aboriginal language culture-based education that’s also administered by education authorities. Aboriginal language terminology. Also, the last one is Aboriginal Languages Strategic Initiative of $360,000. These are some of the initiatives that we felt should be at the community level, at the regional level, and we’ll continue to push that forward with other initiatives within our department as part of empowerment on to the communities.
I’d like to know the role of the federal government in the Aboriginal language revitalization efforts. The Minister has indicated that funding for ’15-16 would be increased from $1.5 million to $3.4 million. I want to understand whether the federal government is involved with that.
Is the Minister pushing for a stronger role for the federal government in the language revitalization efforts?
I’m glad the Member is asking that pointed question. It is one of the key topics that I shared with Minister Glover just last week while we were in Ottawa and stressed that the Aboriginal language programming has not increased over the last decade. Those are just some of the areas that we have been pushing since I came on board in 2007.
I am very optimistic that there will be a funding increase. We’re working very closely with the federal government. In this particular area, $1.5 million to $3.4 million, that’s our GNWT funding that has been dispersed into Aboriginal government. At the same time, we are again working very closely with the federal government so they can be a true partner as we move forward with long-term plans.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the areas that the Minister has been clearly outlining is just looking at the local efforts in terms of trying to explore areas of how greater efforts could be made to try to preserve some of the languages that are on the decline. He’s indicated some drastic changes that more likely will be contemplated.
What can this side of the House expect in terms of perhaps one significant focus that his department will undertake to ensure that the languages will not decline and, at the same time, greater efforts will be made to work with the community level? Mahsi.
We’ve been told over and over from Aboriginal governments, community governments and especially the elders that we must preserve our language and also our cultural way of life. Based on that, we have been working very closely with Aboriginal governments to provide them greater flexibility, accountability and also decision-making authorities to revitalize our language, strengthen our languages as well. Those are some of the key points my department will be working on with Aboriginal governments. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled “Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2015-2016.” Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Moses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Due to the historic event that happened in Inuvik last month, I have a few various news articles as well as a news release from the Swedish Space Corporation pertaining to the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Optic Link and Inuvik Satellite Station Facility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. Item 16, notices of motion. Item 17, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Mr. Miltenberger.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, February 9, 2015, I will move that Bill 44, An Act to Amend the Hospital Insurance and Health and Social Services Administration Act, be read for the first time. Thank you.
Thank you. I would like to call Committee of the Whole to order. We have one tabled document before us. What is the wish of committee? Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that we report progress.
---Carried
I will now rise and report progress.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Tabled Document 188-17(5), NWT Main Estimates 2015-2016, and would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Thank you. Do we have a seconder to the motion? Mr. Miltenberger.
---Carried
Orders of the day for Friday, February 6, 2015, at 10:00 a.m.:
Prayer
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to Opening Address
Replies to Budget Address
Petitions
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
Motions
First Reading of Bills
Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Borrowing Authorization Act
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Tabled Document 188-17(5), NWT Main Estimates 2015-2016
Bill 38, An Act to Amend the Jury Act
Bill 41, An Act to Amend the Partnership Act
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Friday, February 6th, at 10:00 a.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
